Carton



May 28, 1935. c. J. ALFRED 2,002,485

Filed Nov. 26, 1934 INVENTOR Ma .4! mmji ATTORNEYS Patented mi, 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,711

- 11 Claims. (01. 229-11) This'invention relates to cartons used for the distribution of sugar, salt-and similar commodities, and is concerned more particularly with a carton of novel construction which is provided with means which can be readily manipulated to produce an opening through which the contents of the carton can be discharged, and thereafter to close the opening, if desired.

Cartons having pouring openings have been made heretofore in many different forms, but those with which I am familiar are not wholly satisfactory, particularly for distribution of finely divided materials, such as granulated or powdered sugar. The objections to the prior cartons are either that they are complicated and expensive to manufacture or to fill and seal or have closure means for the pouring opening which are diflicult to operate, or else that the closure means do not provide an effective seal which willprevent loss of contents in handling.

The present invention is accordingly directed to the provision of a simple inexpensive carton particularly suited for the distribution of sugar and similar materials, the new carton having a pouring opening and a closure means therefor which provide a strong seal capable of preventing leakage, even though the cartonis roughly handled, and which can be easily operated to expose the opening, whenever that is desired, and

also to close the opening, if only a portion of the contents is'to be removed at a time.

The new carton is provided with the usual closing flaps secured together by adhesive, and

- at its discharge end, the carton has a pair of inner flaps folded inward over the end of the carton and having an opening therethrough which is normally closed by an intermediate flap which overlies the inner flaps. The intermediate flap has a movable section in registry with the opening through the inner flaps, and this section may take the form of a tab which may be displaced to uncover the opening when the carton is to be emptied and may be replaced, if desired, to close the opening after only a part of the carton con- 4 tents have been removed. The tab section extends slightly beyond the edge of the opening and overlies the inner flaps, the latter thus providing a seat which serves to support the tab in position. The seat also tends to prevent the tab 50 from being forced inwardly through the opening in-the operations of. initially removing the tab and of replacing it. An outer flap overlies the intermediate flap and this outer flap is pro- ,vided with a movable section which is preferably 5 hinged and is secured in position normally overlying the tab by readily destructible means. The hinged section, while held firmly in place under normal conditions and thus with the tab providing an effective seal for the opening, does not lie in as close contact with and is not secured as eiiectively by the adhesive to the surface of the intermediate flap, as the remaining portions of the outer flap. In consequence, the hinged section can be readily swung out of place to expose the tab beneath it, and when the tab is likewise 1. swung out of its normal position, the contents of thecarton are exposed through the opening in the inner flaps and may be poured out through that opening and over the surface of the tab which serves to direct the stream of contents and 1 acts in the manner of aspout. If only a'portion of the contents of the carton is to be discharged, the pouring opening may be reclosed by replacing the tab and the hinged section in their original positions. 20

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate successive steps in the opening of the new carton and the discharge 25 of its contents;

Figures 4 and 5 are views in perspective illustrating the sealing of the discharge end of the new carton;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5, but 30 showing only a portion of the carton with the pouring end fully sealed;

Figure"! is a top plan view of the end of the carton shown in Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are plan and end views, respec- 3s tively, of a pressure plate used in sealing the carton;

Figure 10 is aplan view of the carton with the hinged section of the outer flap removed and showing a modified form of intermediate flap; 4.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line ll--ll of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the carton with the hinged section of the outer flap removed and showing a second modified form of intermediate flap; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 12 and showing another modified form of intermediate flap.

Referring to the drawing, the new carton is illustrated in a form suitable for distribution of sugar in granulated form and the carton is made of a blank of paper board folded and secured together lengthwise in 'the usual way to form a generally rectangular body'20. At the bottom 5 end of the carton which is to remain permanently sealed are inner flaps 2| which, when folded inwardly over the end of the carton lie with their edges in proximity. Extending beyond another wall of the carton is' an intermediate fiap 22 which is to be folded over the inner flaps and secured thereto by a film of adhesive. An outer fiap 23 similar to the intermediate flap 22 is then folded inwardly over the latter and secured thereto by adhesive.

At the other end of the carton are inner flaps 24 constituting extensions from the opposite walls of the carton and adapted to be folded inwardly over the end of the carton, as

opening. I

Projecting beyond another wall of the carton is an intermediate flap 26 which is to be folded over upon the inner flaps and secured thereto by adhesive. This intermediate flap is provided with so constructed that solid portions of the inner flaps lie beneath the entire slit.

Extending beyond another wall of the carton is the outer fiap 3| which is to be folded inwardly to overlie the intermediate fiap and be secured thereto by adhesive. The outer flap has a movable section 32 which can be either swung out of position or wholly removed. Preferably, the section is hinged and it extends outwardly from a scored or weakened line 33 lying inward from and parallel to the free edge 34 of the flap, the being connected to the remainder of the flap by perforated lines 35. In the inwardly folded position of the outer flap 3 I, the hinged section 32 wholly overlies the tab 21 and the pouring opening.

The operations of discharging the contents through the pouring opening of the carton are illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the first opexpose the tab 21. inserts his fingernail hinged section and the inner flaps. The contents of the carton ma: then be poured through the opening over the sur face of the tab and the latter serves to direct th stream of contents somewhat in the manner of z spout.

In order that the hinged section on the cute] flap may be readily raised therefrom to expose in the intermediate flap, I secure the flaps together by means which weakens the effect on the under surface of the hinged section of the film of adhesive which secures the outer and intermediate flaps together. In the sealing operation, the flaps at the pouring end of the carton are secured together first, and for this purpose, the carton is mounted on a block, on the end of which is mounted a pressure plate 36. has the same shape as the cross-section of the a transverse channel 37 in its face leading to a generally rectangular recess 38. This recess has the same general shape as the hinged section 32 but is of slightly greater width and length. The carton is mounted on the block in such manner that the hinged section will be in registry with the recess in the pressure plate, and consequently when adhesive has been applied, the flaps have been folded inwardly as described, and pressure is applied to the flaps to cause the adhesive to adhere firmly to the contacting flaps, to those portions of the under surface of the hinged section is diminished. At the same time, since the hinged section is not subjected to pressure tending to compress and compact the paper fiap and thus make the adhesive effective, the away from theremainder of from the surface of the interthis purpose. For example, a portion of the intermediate fiap adjacent the free end of the tab may be completely removed or depressed, as indicated in Figures 10 leading to the slit defining the free end of the tab. The slits 42 preferably diverge slightly and deboard and also to force the section into tight contact with the intermediate flap including fine a secondary tab -43, free end of which lies at the free end 28 of the tab 21. In the operation of lifting the main tab 21, the secondary tab 43 is first slightly depressed and this makes accessible the end of the main tab. In depressing the portions ll of the intermediate flap in the construction shown in Figure l2, and the secondary tab 43 in the construction shown in Figure 13, the edges of the inner flaps 24 must likewise be slightly depressed but this is easy since the portion of the intermediate flap adjacent the end of the tab and the underlying portions of the inner flap are not secured together firmly by the adhesive.

It will be apparent from the detailed description that the new carton can be made at the same cost as an ordinary carton without the pouring opening since theclosure means for the opening consist of portions of the usual flaps and do not include any additional elements. The cutouts in the inner flaps, the tab section, and the hinged section'can all be made in the production of the blank of which the carton is made and the cutting of these parts, therefore, does not involve any additional expense. are easily operated to open and close the pouring opening and the initial manipulation of the hinged section and tab is facilitated by weakening the effect of the adhesive on the hinged section and by forming the tab with a free end which is fully'severed from the remainder of the flap in which it is formed. At the same time, the pro-- vision of the closure means does not weaken the carton or result in leakage of the contents thereof, since the tab does not extend to the line of folding of the intermediate flap and the perforations between the tab and the remainder of the intermediate flap, therefore, lie inwardfrom the line of folding. Also, since the free end of the tab overlies a solid seat portion of the inner flaps and is held partially in place by adhesive, the free end of the tab is properly supported so that the complete severance of the free end of the tab from the remainder of the intermediate flap likewise does not result in leakage.

What 'I claim:

1. In a carton, the combination of a pair of inner flaps extending from opposite walls of the carton and folded inwardly at the end of the carbon, said flaps being cut away to provide a pouring opening, an intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said inner flaps, said intermediate flap including a movable tab section normally overlying said opening, an outer flap extending from another wall of the carbon and folded inwardly over the intermediate flap, said outer a movable section normally overand the opening, and films of adhesive between the outer surfaces of said inner flaps and the inner surface of the intermediate flap, and between the outer surface of the intermediate flap and the inner surface of the outer flap, the contact between said movable section in said outer flap. and the surface of the intermediate flap beneath it being substantially lessthan that between the remaining port-ions of said flaps.

2. In a carton, the combination of a pair of inner flaps extending from opposite walls of the carbon and folded inwardly at the end of the carton, said flaps being cut away to provide a pouring opening, an intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said inner flaps, said intermediate flap including a movable tab section norlying the tab ner flaps extending from The closure means v mally overlying said opening, an outer flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly over the intermediate flap, said outer flap including a movable section normally overlying the tab and the opening, and films of adhesive between the outer surfaces of said inner flaps and the inner surface of the intermediate flap, and between the outer surface of the intermediate flap and the inner surface of the outer flap, said movable section in the outer flap lying offset upwardly from the remainder of the :outer flap to an extent'suiiicient to weaken the action of the adhesive on said section.

3. In a carton, the combination of a pair of inopposite walls of the carton and folded inwardly at the end of the carton, said flaps being cut away to provide a pouring opening, an intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carbon and folded inwardly to overlie said inner flaps, said intermedate flap including a movable tab section normally overlying said opening, an outer flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly over the intermediate flap, said outer flap including a movable section normally overlying the tab and the opening, and films of adhesive between the outer surfaces of said inner flaps and the inner surface of the intermediate flap; and between the outer surface of the intermediate flap and the inner surface of the outer flap, lying offset upwardly from the surface of the intermediate flap to an extent sufficient to weaken the actionof the adhesive on said section.

4. In a carton, the combination of a pair of inner flaps extending from opposite walls of the carton and folded inwardly at the end of the carton, each flap having a cut-out with said cutouts cooperating to form a pouring opening, an intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly inner flaps, said intermediate flap having a tab section held in place by readily destructible means, said tab section overlying said opening and portions of said inner flaps at one side thereof, and an outer flap extending from-another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said intermediate flap, said outer flap having a movable section normally overlying said tab section.

5. In a carton the combination of a pair of inner flaps extending from opposite walls of the cartefn and folded inwardly at the end of the carton, each flap having a cut-out with said cutouts cooperating to form a pouring opening, an intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said inner flaps, a tab section in said intermediate flap defined by spaced weakened lines and a slit connecting the ends of said weakened lines and providing the free end of said tab section, said tab section overlying said opening with its free end projecting beyond the edge of the opening-and overlying said edge, an outer flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said intermediate flap and having a movable section normally overlying said tab section, and films of adhesive securing said intermediate flap to said inner flaps and said outer flap to said intermediate flap.

6. In a carton, the combination of a pair of inner flaps extending from opposite walls of the carton and folded inwardly at the end of the carton, each flap having a cut-out with said 'cutouts cooperating to form a pouring opening, an 75 v said movable section in the outer flap,

to overlie said iii intermediate flap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly to overlie said inner flaps, a tabsection defined at least in part by weakened lines terminating inward from the connection between the intermediate flap and the wall of the carton from which it extends, an outer fiap extending from another wall of the carton and folded inwardly oversaid intermediate flap, said outer flap having a movable section normally overlying said tab section, and films of adhesive securing said intermediate flap to said inner flaps and said outer flap to said intermediate flap.

7. In a carton, the combination of flaps at one end of the carton extending from the walls of the carton and folded inwardly to close the end of the carton, said flaps formed with a pouring opening therethrough, an intermediate fiap overlying said inner flaps and provided with a movable tab section normally overlying said opening and having a free end, said tab-section having a connection to its flap spaced inwardly from the connection of said flap to the wall from which it extends, and an. outer flap overlying said intermediate flap and having a movable section normally overlying said tab section, said movable section in said outer flap extending inward from the free end of its flap with the end of said movable section lying substantially in registry with the connection of said intermediate flap to its wall, and films of adhesive securing said flaps in position.

8. In a carton, the combination of flaps at one end of the carton extending from the walls of the carton and folded inwardly to close the end of the carton, said flaps including a pair of inner flaps formed with a pouring opening therethrough, an intermediate flap overlying and secured to said inner flaps and provided with a movable tab section overlying said opening and having a free end defined by a slit, said intermediate fiap being formed said slit to facilitate raising of said free end, and an outer flap overlying and secured tosaid intermediate flap and having a movable section normally overlying said tab section.

flaps including a pair of inner 9. In a carton, the combination of flaps at one end of the carton extending from the walls of the carton and folded inwardly to close the end of the carton, said flaps including a pair of inner flaps formed with a pouring opening therethrough, an intermediate flap overlying and secured to said inner flaps and provided with a movable tab section normally overlying said opening and having a free end defined by a slit, said intermediate fiap being formed with a recess adiacent said slit to facilitate raising of said free end, said free end and recess overlying a solid portion of said inner flaps, and an outer flap overlying and secured to said intermediate flap and having a movable section normally overlying said tab section.

10. In a carton, the combination of fiaps at one end of the carton extending from the wall of the carton and folded inward to close said end, said flaps including a pair of inner flaps formed with a pouring opening therethrough, an intermediate flap overlying said inner flaps and hav-- ing a tab section defined at least in part by a slit, and a second slit intersecting said slit first-mentioned, the free end of said tab section and the portions of said intermediate flap on either side of said second slit overlying a solid portion of said inner flaps, and an outer flap overlying and secured to said intermediate flap and having a removable section normally overlying said tab section.

11. In a carton, the combination of flaps at one end of the carton extending from the walls of the carton and folded inward to close said end, said flaps including a pair of inner flaps formed with a pouring opening therethrough, an intermediate flap overlying said inner fiaps and having a pair of tab sections defined at least in part by slits, the free ends of both tab sections being defined by a single slit and the free ends of said tab sections overlying a solid portion of said inner flaps, and an outer flap overlying and secured to said intermediate flap and having a movable section normally overlying said tab sections.

CLARENCE J. ALFRED. 

